Newsline for July 7, 2000

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR REPORT RUNS 1:10.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: A U-S SENATOR SAYS CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO MORE TO HELP FARMERS BECOME ECONOMICALLY SECURE. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM NEBRASKA SENATOR CHUCK HAGEL. HAGEL IS SPELLED H-A-G-E-L.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY HAGEL SAYS CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION ARE NOT LIVING UP TO PROMISES THEY MADE DURING FREEDOM TO FARM PASSAGE TO OPEN UP NEW MARKETS. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, HAGEL SAYS ONE THING CONGRESS HAS DONE TO HELP FARMERS IS CROP INSURANCE REFORM.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) NEBRASKA REPUBLICAN SENATOR CHUCK HAGEL SAYS LIFTING TRADE SANCTIONS IS A VITAL PART OF AGRICULTURE POLICY AS WELL AS FOREIGN POLICY.

(HAGEL) DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FARM PROGRAM? ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT IN 1996 WHEN WE REFORMED THE FARM PROGRAM WE AGREED, I WASN'T HERE AT THE TIME, BUT BOTH SIDES AGREED THAT THEY WOULD DO EVERYTHING TO OPEN UP NEW MARKETS AND THEY'VE NOT DONE THAT.

(ELLISON) HAGEL SAYS CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE IMPEDED ACCESS TO NEW MARKETS. HE SAYS CAPITOL HILL AND THE WHITE HOUSE NEED TO START LIVING UP TO THE PROMISES MADE WHEN FREEDOM TO FARM PASSED AND BECAME LAW, BUT HE ADMITS THAT IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

(HAGEL) REMOVING SANCTIONS ON FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR ALL COUNTRIES, THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY AS WELL. CUBA, OF COURSE, ALWAYS DOMINATES THAT DEBATE.

(ELLISON) HAGEL HAS CO-SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO GET RID OF UNILATERAL TRADE SANCTIONS. MEANWHILE, HAGEL SAYS CONGRESS HAS DONE SOME THINGS TO HELP AGRICULTURE.

(HAGEL) FINALLY PUT IN PLACE A BILL, WHICH THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE CROP INSURANCE IMPROVEMENT.

(ELLISON) HAGEL SAYS CROP INSURANCE REFORM GIVES PRODUCERS THE OPTION TO PROTECT MORE OF THEIR CROPS AT A LOWER COST.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS SIX SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(HAGEL) AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE LOST MARKETS BECAUSE OF A LOT OF SILLY THINGS WE ARE DOING UP HERE BOTH THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS TWELVE SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(HAGEL) WHICH GIVES FARMERS AND LIVESTOCK OPERATORS MORE FLEXIBILITY, MORE OPTIONS AT A LOWER PRICE TO PROTECT MORE OF THEIR CROPS.

(ELLISON) THE FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE IS UPDATED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.